The White Stripes
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 June, 2002)
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Reviews (103)

ahhh!!!
If your into progressive rock and drum solos then go listen to that and leave the white stripes alone.You can throw around your generic completely unfounded insults all you want but I'm going to trust Bob Dylan's, Loretta Lynn's, The Rolling Stones' and Jeff Beck's word that this is great band.

this band is retarded.
This band blows and so does the album. How can anyone not jump off a building trying to listen to this crap? The most annoying vocals in the world, i swear. I mean, seriously anyone who listens to this junk has to be pretending to like it.

4.5 stars - original & heart-pumping beats...
"The White Stripes" is one of the greatest albums ever. I have their other albums, but, as I only just got into them, I haven't the others yet. But if this CD is anything to go by, I will definitely give the others a listen! It's all so original, from the amazing guitar sound in "Jimmy The Exploder" to the melodic, soft "St. James Infimary Blues", the two best songs on the album. Other great songs are "Do,", "Slicker Drips", "The Big Three Killed My Baby", "Stop Breaking Down", "I Fought Piranhas", "Screwdriver", "Astro", "Cannon" and "When I Hear My Name". I've mentioned practically all the songs, which just goes to show how great this album is.
You won't have heard anything like this. Jack White - you are a genius. ... Read more

Asin: B000068OSK
Sales Rank: 5239
Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. Garage Rock Revival    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Mutations
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (03 November, 1998)
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Editorial Review

It's unfortunate how much attention has been paid to how this album was recorded--quickly, without the same level of studio fuss that marked Beck's breakthrough album, Odelay. That's a shame because our favorite chameleon has pulled the neatest trick of all: he's dropped the lyrical schtick that sometimes marred his sonic wizardy, leaving listeners to wonder if he even believed in the music he was playing. That's not an issue here. At times, he sounds like Ray Davies updated for the '90s, stripping himself bare with lovely, simple songs that linger long after they've supposedly ended. Beck may have made his initial mark with "Loser," a clever but insincere admission of inferiority; he's more likely to be remembered for the similar but more heartfelt confession of "Nobody's Fault But My Own." --Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (220)

Beck's "fake" album (How Stupid to Call It That!)
When Mutations came out after Odelay!, critics and fans said it wasn't a "real" Beck album, mostly due to its acoustic nature.What rubbish. This is a fantastic album, showing Beck to be more talented than a lot of people thought with his singing, songwriting, and guitar playing really shining here.And the songs, overall, are awesome.Tropicalia, Bottle of Blues, Nobody's Fault But My Own, Lazy Flies, Cold Brains, and an AWESOME hidden track (Diamond Bollocks) that is a cross between what Beck did on Odelay! and what he would do on Midnite Vultures.Just awesome.

Odelay part 2 it's not..Beck's "Nashville Skyline"
Beck is one of the latest to have the label "the new Dylan" slapped on him. This album may be the one that makes it a little easier to see where they're coming from. Forget the genre- stitching amalgram that was "Mellow Gold" and "Odelay"..there are no "turntables and a microphone" here. This is clearly too ornate and full of glockenspiel, trumpet, cello, "fuzz" bass/guitar, harpsichord and the like to call "folk", though it's easy to hear an acoustic melody at the heart of all these tunes. If there's an overall sound here, it's country. The other left turn comes lyrically where Beck isn't using nearly as much surrealist imagery..he's getting introspective here and while there's still clever wordplay it's not as apt to be willfully bizarre.

HIGHLIGHTS:
With its droning sitar and tamboura, "Nobody's Fault but my Own" could be George Harrison on downers. "Tropicalia", is a cross between bossa nova and African music (I seem to hear a djembe in there..) with "old style" Beck imagery. ("Misery waits in vague hotels","under an air-conditioned sun") It's the 'sore thumb' here musically. "Canceled Check" evokes the old West with barroom rinky-tink piano, pedal steel and harmonica in its kiss-off to a traitorous friend. It all dissolves in a wash of crashing cymbal, keyboard blips, and assorted noise. "Bottle of Blues" may be the most straightforward music Beck's ever done, a pure country lament (well,ALMOST...some extra keyboard blips keep it in "alt-country" territory). "O Maria" seems to be the document of a love affair watching the spark slowly seep out ("'Cos everybody knows death creeps in slow/Till you feel safe in his arms")

LOW SPOTS:
There's a hidden track after "Static" that isn't so much "bad" as just a sore thumb on the album. It's full of blaring transitions, distorted guitar, and sonic oddities like an abrupt stop to play tweeting birds and clanging cacophony. It would be much more at home on "Odelay" than here. Again, not "bad"..but an album is supposed to hang together and putting this on here makes it not do that as well. "Dead Melodies" and "Cold Brains", while very pretty, just didn't "grab" me. "CB" is poorly positioned..you really want an attention getter as your opener.."Bottle of Blues" would probably have been better in that respect.

BOTTOM LINE:
Try the trilogy...listen to the samples for "Nobody's Fault but my Own","Canceled Check" and "Bottle of Blues". If this is NOT your thing, neither is the album. If you like 'em, pick this up.

3 1/2 stars

A Beckian Hybrid
It's nearly impossible to attach a label to any of Beck's work, unless that label is "Beckesque," and even that is difficult to pin down exactly.Similarly, "Mutations" features the artist trying his hand at everything from old-West saloon music to vaguely-folk alternative rock.What is missing, however, is the unmistakable awareness of pop sensibilities that had marked Beck's previous work, and hence why the album - arguably the artist's best - is not the ideal point of entry for the unfamiliar listener.Better to start with efforts such as "Odelay" or the recent "Guero."

While the songs range considerably in genre-essence, they share a common reliance upon vivid, often surreal imagery that include heavens being sucked down the drain and night birds singing dead melodies.There is a persistent feeling of cynicism chewing through one track after the next, hiding behind all variety of bizarre images and metaphors before jumping suddenly out to level the listener with a line like, "everybody knows death creeps in slow `til you feel safe in his arms."That said, the album is not a depressing one.It never wanders too far from Beck's sense of humor and self-irony, and one must at least acknowledge that it is interesting.

But to the listener looking for something different - not too different, but just enough - "Mutations" is refreshing evidence that significant albums are still being made.From the pleasant, old-west/riverboat sounds of "Cancelled Check" and "Bottle of Blues," to the creepy "Nobody's Fault but my Own," and "O Maria," to the foreboding "Runners Dial Zero," the album is a complete, polished effort - ranging from chaotic circus music to gentle folk strumming.And the artist avoids betraying fans of his old albums by tossing them the archetypal-Beck, pop-sounding "Tropicalia" and "Diamond Bollocks."Always experimental, always transcendent, Beck has achieved with "Mutations" a career-defining album that shrugs off the necessity of commercial success by appealing to the somewhat inclusive and somewhat refined tastes of somewhat cultivated listeners. ... Read more

Asin: B00000DHYK
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Singer/Songwriter   

The Bends
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (04 April, 1995)
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Editorial Review

While Radiohead saw its stock rising in 1994, it wasn't until 1995's The Bends that it really became a blue chip band. And for good reason. The quintet honed its talent for bombastic Brit Rock, yet still preserved an edge of unpredictability. Even singles like the title track didn't give in to the kind of swooning guitar clichés usually embraced by commercial radio. If the CD proved anything, it was that Radiohead could find solid ground between pop experimentation and the tradition of born-in-the-bone, balls-out rock. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Reviews (476)

Pure sh**!
This is pure sh**! I hate Radiohead...it is as bad as Coldplay...just whining...yhyy...yhyyy...waah!

Amazing, amazing CD
Listen to the CD a while and you'll start saying Radiohead in a hushed voice. This is one of their best CDs alongside OK Computer and Hail to the Thief. If you dont have any Radiohead CDs, this one is probably a good place to start. All the songs are great, but "Street Spirit" is one of the best ending songs on any CD.

Fabulous!
I am a big Radiohead fan. Radiohead's music is divided into two different, expiramental genre's. Pre Kid A and Kid A and the newer releases. I like all of Radiohead's stuff, but pre Kid A Radiohead is my favorite.

"The Bends" is just an excellent album beginning to end! It is, in my opinion, the best album Radiohead has released yet to date. When my friends are interested in checking out Radiohead, I tell them to start out with "The Bends" and slowly work their way up to the newer CD's. I really feel "The Bends" is just pure genius. I know most would disagree and say "Ok Computer" is their best album. I like "Ok Computer" a lot, but "The Bends" blows it out of the water.

The first six songs are really good. The whole album is awesome, but my favorite songs are "The Bends", "High and Dry", "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Bones."This album is one worth owning, especially if you are new to Radiohead.The whole album blends so great. Each song compliments that last one perfectly. This is a great album to start out with before exploring their other works, which are all genius in their own way. I give "The Bends" five full stars. ... Read more

Asin: B000002TQV
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Britpop    3. England    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Liquid Skin
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 September, 1999)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Start with Eddie Vedder's wobbly yowl, add a dose of Pink Floyd-era psychedelics and rootsy slide guitar, then top it off with Beck-like aural treatments, and you get England's critically acclaimed Gomez. Liquid Skin is more forward-looking and a bit less bluesy than its 1998 predecessor, with murky electronic textures and filtered drum machines lurking beneath the melodic surface. The group continues to wear their inspirations on their sleeves at times. "We Haven't Turned Around" sounds like Pearl Jam on a trip to the Dark Side of the Moon, while "Bring It On" cops a groove directly from Bob Marley's "Lively Up Yourself." But unlike too many of its British contemporaries, Gomez seems intent on fusing their classic and contemporary influences into an original sound that will wear well over time. --Rick Mitchell ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Average musicians making average music
I first heard the song Rosalita from a friend's mix CD and thought it was a decent little song. I gave the album a listen after reading all the rave reviews here. Maybe my expectations were just too high after reading all the praise, but I found this album unimpressive. The music is trite and uninteresting; not that it's bad, but it just lacks anything really that original. The lyrics are too heavy-handed and recycled at times. There are a few decent tunes on this album, but overall, it's average at best, IMO.

You WILL buy this album.
You will buy Liquid Skin. You will then pop it into your CD player and turn it up too loud because Hangover starts our rather quiet. You will enjoy both Hangover and Revolutionary Kind. Then Bring It On will come on and you will finally start to get it. Next comes Blue Moon Rising that you will underrate at first, along with Las Vegas Dealer. Brace yourself, because We Haven't Turned Around is next, and it will blow you away. It might take until about halfway through the song when it comes back from a beautiful string interlude with slightly distorted guitars. Then comes Fill My Cup, the overdrive on the bass will intrigue you, but it will not really compare to the album version of Rhythm & Blues Alibi. Next comes Rosalita which can only be described as damn beautiful. California is rather long, but you will be too caught up in it to really notice. Last comes Devil Will Ride, which should just bring about a perfect end to one of the best albums in recent history. You will have just spent almost an hour of your life that you will wish you could get back to and relive, because it will never sound as awe-inspiring as that first time. You will eventually get to know the album like the back of your hand. It will play through your mind all the time, but it will never be able to surprise you as it did that first listen. And you will never be the same.

This CD can change lives
This is my first review, as I normally choose to read them, but the impact this CD has had has propelled me to take action otherwise. I think this is one of the best CDs of all time.It has the ability to take you somewhere, its that perfect place. You can play it just hanging out, but you can also play it during any other situation. Usually for me only one song would do in any given album, and the rest I have to skip because it cant keep up with that one song. But this CD is different. Each song is beautiful, unique, and inspiring. This CD is one Ive owned for years, but always Im blown away by. Def. a top 10 CD for me. ... Read more

Asin: B00001IVIU
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock/Pop   

Toxicity
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (04 September, 2001)
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Editorial Review

System of a Down's sophomore effort is a musically and lyrically ambitious 14-song collection that's even more left-of-center and powerful than their 1998 self-titled debut. Here the Los Angeles-bred foursome tackle everything from government ("Prison Song") to cocaine-crazed groupies ("Psycho") in a more pointed and aggressive manner than Rage Against the Machine. Serj Tankian's hardcore vocals and occasional Middle Eastern flourishes ("Science") contribute to the unique, ultra-intense, and quirky qualities of System circa 2001. Unexpected time changes and death-metal-like intensity give way to mellower moments, all of which make for demanding but irresistible listening. Toxicity is a masterful, unusual, and forceful opus. This release includes a bonus CD-ROM that includes behind-the-scenes footage, band commentary, and concert clips. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (813)

Just As Good As Their Debut
I got System of a Down's self-titled debut about a month ago and I LOVED IT! At the time, it was my favorite CD of all time. I think it still is, but Toxicity comes close to beating it.
Toxicity is much more commercial than their debut. If you listen to a metal or hard rock radio station, you are likely to hear Toxicity, Aerials or Chop Suey!. That doesn't make this album bad, it just kind of wares out those songs. But, the radio can't ruin System of a Down. My favorite band releases another winner with Toxicity.
I'll rate each song one by one on a scale of 1 to 10.
1= horrible song, deserves to be burned
10= AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Prison Song- Toxicity is a lot more melodic than "System of a Down." But this song isn't. Listening to this song makes you think this album is going to be like their first CD, but it's not. This is the hardest song on the CD. And it's the best. Although the lyrics aren't the best (They're trying to build a prison, they're trying to build a prison, they're trying to build a prison, for you and me, another prison system, another prison system, another prison system, for you and me.), the music is great and Serj Tankian (vocals for SOAD) sings fast and great. Necessity.
Rating: 11/10 (off the charts)

2. Needles:This song is pretty good. Although it's not near as good as Prison Song before it and barely not as good as Deer Dance after it, it's still good. The lyrics are much better than the Prison Song lyrics and the music is still really good. Awesome, but there's better.
Rating: 8/10

3. Deer Dance: This is a GREAT song. The lyrics to the chorus are awesome and the music is also good. This is a great song, but unfortunately it's followed up by...
Rating: 10/10

4. Jet Pilot: Usually, I like really really hard songs like this one, but this is just annoying. Half of the lyrics to the song are "Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot, one that smiled when he flew over the bay." They say that at least 50 times, and it gets IRRITATING AS HECK. Just filler.
Rating: 6/10

5. X- All "X" is is filler just like Jet Pilot, only not as hard and not as oogd. Just like the horse lyrics on Jet Pilot, on this song, they say "We don't need to multiply." That sentence is said a lot and it's just as irritating.
Rating: 5/10

6. Chop Suey!- YES! After two crap songs, System of a Down prove themselves once again with a great song that you've probably heard before on the radio. This song is about suicide, Jesus and many other things. The first single off of this CD, and I know why.
Rating: 10/10

7. Bounce- Although I hate Jet Pilot and X because they say the same line over and over and over, I like this song. And all they say is "Bounce, pogo, pogo, pogo, pogo, pogo, pogo, pogo." Then they have a short verse, then there's more "Bounce, pogo, pogo, pogo, pogo, pogo." Awesome, but I have no idea why I like it.
Rating: 10/10

8. Forest- This song is one of the slower songs on the disc. But the thing is who cares? Everything on this is at least sort of metal and it's all LOUD. This song is awesome and the lyrics are great.
Rating: 9/10

9. ATWA- Okay, THIS song is the slowest. This song is good and the lyrics are just plain original. I like it, and you should too.
Rating: 9/10

10. Science- This song is about science failing our world. (as you can tell from the lyrics) This song is really good, just as good as ATWA or Forest.
Rating: 9/10

11. Shimmy- This song is like Bounce to me. It's one of the Top 3 songs of the album to me, and there's no reason not to like it. The lyrics are pretty good, but there's better lyrics on this album. I just want to say, IT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 10/10

12. Toxicity- This is another song that you might have heard on the radio a lot. This song talks about how we are polluting and destroying the world. This is many peoples' favorite song, but this would be #5 for me. I'm not saying this song is bad, because it's not. There's just better songs.
Rating: 10/10

13. Psycho- This song is about cocaine-crazed groupie people. The lyrics on this song are awful, but the music and the great singing by Serj Tankian make up for that. This song is like Shimmy or Bounce, but barely not as good.
Rating: 10/10

14. Aerials- The third and final commercial song on the album. I take my statement back that I made back at #9. I said that ATWA was the slowest song on the album. It's not. That place is taken by this. This song is good and all, and it's very long, considering many System of a Down songs. It's slow and it's good. Although I like many others more on this CD, I still give this a 9.
Rating: 9/10

Okay, I'm done. Now, for the burning question in everyone's mind...
WHICH CD IS BETTER? SYSTEM OF A DOWN OR TOXICITY?
Well, I'd have to answer "System of a Down", just because the lyrics are better and there's no bad songs, like "X" or "Jet Pilot". If they would have replaced those two songs with two more great songs like the rest of the album, this could have placed ahead of their debut. I'm not saying Toxicity is bad, because it's still GREAT, but their debut is barely better, by about 0.0000010%. Just buy them both. Now, for the 5 best songs and the songs that just needed to be left off.

#5. Toxicity
#4. Chop Suey!
#3. Shimmy
#2. Bounce
#1. PRISON SONG!

Stupid Filler
X...
Jet Pilot...

Although those two songs are horrible and deserve to be left off, System pulls off another complete album with their sophomore effort.

awesome!
this cd is truely awesome!system of a down has really made a name for themselves in hard rock/metal.not only is the music great,but i love how political and offbeat the lyrics are.some examples-all lyrics of "prison song";"they like to push the weak around";etc.standout tracks are---->Chop Suey!,Forest,Prison Song,Toxicity,Aerials.all are great tho.heres a track by track rating.
1.Prison Song-great lyrics.5/5
2.Needles-great sound,really fast.5/5
3.Deer Dance-really great lyrics.5/5
4.Jet Pilot-really fast and metal-y.5/5
5.X-again,great lyrics.5/5
6.Chop Suey!-my fav on this album.5/5
7.Bounce-this song is hilarious!really funny lyrics and just a fun song.5/5
8.Forest-I love this song.5/5
9.ATWA-not one of my favorites but still good.5/5
10.Science-cool lyrics.5/5
11.Shimmy-good song.5/5
12.Toxicity-the reason i bought this album.great song.5/5
13.Psycho-good but not a fav.4/5
14.Aerials-another great song.this isn't as fast as the rest but a great song.5/5
go buy this album.system of a down has opened up a new style in metal.daron malakian's voice is just great.it is worth it.

Uh!
Please stop this! Another garbage! Why people buy this stuff! I hate SoD! When I first heard this album I was amazed! This is just as bad as Tool or Saxon! Awful! ... Read more

Asin: B000021YQV
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Yield
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (03 February, 1998)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Editorial Review

The Seattle band once notable for its arena rock anthems is now remarkable mostly for its hushed melodies. On Pearl Jam's fifth album, the rockers seem slapdash ("Do the Evolution", "Brain of J"), and the arty experiments sound self-conscious (especially the 67-second knockoff, "-"). That leaves the ballads, especially the lovely lilt of "Low Light" and the clear-eyed lament of "Wishlist." On the latter song, Ed Vedder (as he now calls himself) yearns to be many different things, from a neutron bomb to a souvenir key chain. However, the line that sticks out is, "I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me." Instead of considering himself lucky to be a rock star, Vedder sounds relieved to have moved beyond it.--Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (291)

Love this album
Let's face it, they'll wont be another TEN, but this album is great. I was a little disappointed at first, but I realized it's not 1991 and grunge is over. So I gave YIELD a chance and realized I Loved it. You can't compare it to old school Pearl Jam because these are just different times. Old school Pearl Jam will always be superior just like old school Metallica songs. That's just the way it is.

"Admire me, admire my home, admire my son...HE'S MY CLONE...
"...This land is mine/This land is free/I do what I want/but irresponsibly..." ("Do The Revolution, 1998)

Holy s***, did I just hear what I thought I heard? Had this album not come out 7 years ago I'd swear that was an anti-GWB track from last year (and mind you,kicks the ass of anything off of Green Day's 'politically-minded' American Idiot, no offense). The best art proves its timelessness by being overwhelmingly relevant in the here and now while retaining an uncanny prescience. Pearl Jam has always maintained that level of greatness, and Yield is indeed one of their greatest achievements on record. The most amazing thing to me is how easy and effortless they make it all sound. Definitely an album to own and play over and over (after Ten, and vs., of course, for newbies).

Strong Pearl Jam Album - An experiment successful
'YIELD' has some very fine songs that is indicative of Pearl Jam experimenting. Mixed in with the smooth rock beats and the heavy vocals of Vedder is an almost playfulness of experimentation that showed listeners that PO has a sublime harmonic side. It was a great album to listen too and I quite enjoyed 'Faithful', 'Wishlist', 'Do The Evolution' and 'All Those Yesterdays'.

This is the 1998 release and shows Pearl Jam has a highy successful band that survived time and the years and are still evolving. ... Read more

Asin: B000002BYD
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Hard Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Grace
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 August, 1994)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

Resembling at times a soft-sung Robert Plant, Buckley was an intuitive vocalist capable of dizzying arabesques and choir-boy sweetness. He is joined here by a tight band for 10 tracks highlighting his stylistic range--Pearl Jam bluesy on "Eternal Life," impossibly serene on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," art-school noisy on "So Real," Led Zep daring on "Mojo Pin." Unorthodox, this was the debut of '94. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (473)

I Love This Album
I learned about Buckley through a recommendation from a friend.I was disappointed on first listening to songs like Lover, You Should've Come Over and Last Goodbye, but was hooked instantly by the beautiful Hallelujah.Buckley is almost whispering and you can even hear his breath, and it sounds fantastic.After a few more listens, while Hallelujah started to lose interest, I started to appreciate the other songs more.I started to notice how perfect the choice of the chords was, as for example in Lover under the line of "maybe I'm too young...", and the vocal segments where Buckley seemed to float without direction suddenly seemed to have direction.

This seems to be an album where the greatness stays hidden for a while and then suddenly jumps out at you.I recommend buying this album and, if it doesn't hit you in the first couple of listens, try listening to it on different speakers, even crappy ones, or with slightly different equalization.But buying the album would be a very good place to start.

Falling For Grace
I feel a little fortunate that I had this album before the untimely passing of Jeff Buckley. I heard a version of "Hallelujah" in Los Angeles that swept me off my feet, and literally had to stop what I was doing till I found out who was singing it. I friend of mine at CBS hooked me up with this CD and was excited beyond anything I usually would here from her. "Expect great things from this guy, Tim," she told me. "We think he's going to be a major artist."

Little did she realize how prophetic she was. Three years after releasing his only fully produced album, Jeff took that ill-fated Memphis dive in the Mississippi. Which leaves us with "Grace," an in-your-face statement of artistic boldness that pressed the folk-mysticism of Van Morrison with bursts of rock that would have made Led Zepplin proud. The songs stretch at their seams with both frustrated sensuality and unbridled joy, and an uncompromising musical vision.

From the teasing come-hither of "Lover You Should Have Come Over" to the cabaret jazz curiosities that would lead him to cover "Lilac Wine," Buckley's self-confidence carries "Grace" to an intensely personal level that so many artists shy away from. It made "Grace" a standout in 1994, and has kept it on my desert island list for over a decade. It's also the touchstone that his now rabid cult takes their cues from. After all, he delivered a stunning debut, cut a tragic profile even in life, and disappeared far too young. Fortunately for the casually curious, "Grace" lives up to its reputation.

classic album, a favorite of the 90's
Jeff buckley's voice is legendary, and this album is the only album he made.It is filled with atmospheric, overpowering music that is quite transporting in most places, but occasionally not that strong.for one thing, the song "lilac wine" is kind of dumb, i think, and I prefer the leonard cohen version of "hallelujah."(though jeff's version is stunning, I must say).I am not a huge fan of Jeff's work, but I recognize his genius and his ultrasexed singing as being unique and powerful.I recommend this album to any music fan. ... Read more

Asin: B0000029DD
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Precious
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 November, 2002)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $17.98
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Editorial Review

If Ours's 2000 disc, Distorted Lullabies, was notable for singer-songwriter Jimmy Gnecco's vocal similarity to Jeff Buckley and his fluent command of tortured pop-rock (hardly groundbreaking traits, but serviceable), then Precious makes the case for Gnecco as genuine-article artist. There's a truckload of emotion here and while Gnecco is more screamer than crooner, his viewpoints linger long after the final chords. Opening with the spiky--and cheeky--"Kill the Band," Precious segues into "Realize," a straight rock tune with a pealing guitar lead that solders the chorus to the bridge. Paler shades are explored later in the disc; "Broken" begins as a dirge before erupting into a musical firestorm with Gnecco's howls at the vortex. "If Flowers Turn" is wistful pop abetted by tambourine and do-do-do vocals, while "Red Colored Stars" trades muscular electric guitar for acoustic and octave-defying vocals. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (54)

Okay you can sing really loud and really high. We get it.
I'm all for bands making departures from style and trying new sounds but seriously they should have just made another version of "Distorted Lullabies" because at least it would have been a solid album and not just showcase for Jimmy Gnecco's vocal range.

Yes I'm jealous, but in "Distorted Lullabies" all the screaming and high notes MADE SENSE because they complimented the mood and lyrical content of the songs.

But when you're singing about flowers in a field or the daily news (or some of the other God-awful lyrics on this album) you don't need some tortured Jeff Buckley-esque stratospheric screaming high note to express those emotions. Unneccessary.

Gnecco is a talented singer/songwriter and deserves better success that he has had so far but this album ain't gettin him any closer.He seems to be more about the singing than the songwriting on this album and that's why it suffers.

All in all the songs aren't bad just lame compared to 'Distorted.'I've heard some of his new stuff and he's less about showing off and back to working on the quality of the songs themselves. Maybe there's hope.......

Good album but Distorted Lullabies is better
For those who keep making the worn-out comparison between Jimmy Gnecco and Jeff Buckley - get over it. Gnecco is a MUCH better singer than Jeff Buckley, and, while I think they are in the same vein (I describe OURS to friends of mine who are unfamiliar with their music as "sort of like Jeff Buckley's singing with some U2 and Radiohead thrown in"), Gnecco's singing has entirely different sounds/dimensions than Buckley's. I would say that Buckley's voice was like Frosted Flakes (sugary sweet, almost too sweet), whereas Gnecco's voice is more like Lucky Charms: less sweet, but with nuggets of charms and diamonds. I can't rememeber ever having heard Jeff Buckley groan from the back of his throat as if his vocal chords are splitting, which is a common way Gnecco uses his voice. Gnecco likes to juxtapose dreary, back-of-the-throat groaning with searing, high-octave flourishes and vibratto screaming. Most of OURS music features discord - totally different sounds playing against one another, including the vocals. I think their sound, while obviously INFLUENCED by Jeff Buckley, is different and unique, and Gnecco elicits many more moods, even in the span of 1 song, than Buckley. And even if they do borrow heavily from their own influences (Buckley, U2, The Cure) I can't deny the result. Gnecco's singing will stop you in your tracks, and I think he is the best currently perfoming male vocalist - period. Better than Chris Cornell (though they have totally different styles), better than Thom York, better than Bono, etc etc etc. See them live and I bet you'll agree. In fact, the first time I saw OURS live (I've seen them 3 times), a local Austin singer, who played an acoustic set before Gnecco's acoustic set, actually closed his set with "Grace", and I thought, "wow, that dude can sing". But by the time Jimmy Gnecco was about 30 seconds into his first song, he had eclipsed the prior performance. His voice is extremely clear and powerful.

If you like Jeff Buckley, you will most likely also appreciate the music of OURS, but I don't think it is fair to call ours a "Jeff Buckley" clone as most reviewers seem to do. Really, the more you listen to OURS, you will hear more similarities to U2 than any other band. Especially the upcoming 3rd album - I've heard some of the songs live from the upcoming 3rd album and thought "that sounds like early U2". Maybe not totally groundbreaking but still VERY good music.

I rate Distorted Lullabies the better of the 2 current albums. Precious is less rehearsed, and more untouched/raw. Distorted Lullabies supposedly took 3 years to produce and it has a highly "retouched" feel to it, like it has alot of makeup. But I still think it (Distorted Lullabies) is the better album. Precious sometimes seems to hurried, like the band was rushing to prove that they could also make spontaneous, natural music. Try it out and if you like Precious, you will most definitely like Distored Lullabies. I kind of hope that OURS will find their true sound as something between these 2 albums.

jimmy "jeff buckley" gnecco
It's nice someone is copying the late great Jeff buckley. But that's all Ours is, a 2nd rate Jeff Buckley. Jimmy Gnecco is a dead ringer in vocal style and looks to Jeff. He has amazing talent but needs to find his own identity before people start to catch on. I recommend you go and buy Buckley's "Grace" first, it's the just thing to do. ... Read more

Asin: B00006WKY0
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Emo    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Audioslave
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 November, 2002)
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Editorial Review

The debut of thundering supergroup Audioslave--featuring members of Rage Against the Machine post-Zack de la Rocha with ex-Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell--is as much curio as fascinating blend of visions. Cornell might be outnumbered, but his unmistakable holler and nihilistic imagery ensure that Audioslave, the album, recalls early Soundgarden. That's especially true since de la Rocha took Rage's signature rap and politicking with him. Still, if this is Soundgarden, it's Soundgarden set to stun. Rage guitarist Tom Morello is more of a mauler than Kim Thayil ever was--witness "Shadow on the Sun," which moves from bruising thud to psychedelic freak-out and back again--while the Rage rhythm section of Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk anchor the bottom end with pure instrumental cement. Intentionally or not, "Gasoline" bears passing resemblance to "Rusty Cage," while the sweeping "I Am the Highway" and slow-burning "The Last Remaining Light" best showcase Cornell's surprisingly New Age-y lyrical bent. Cover art by Storm Thorgerson, who gave Pink Floyd records their distinctive stamp, underscores the set's inherent celebrity. Fans of Rage and Soundgarden can raise clenched fists in unison, for Audioslave is win-win. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (919)

Great Debut Album
This album is simply one of the best to come out in 2000's. The singles on this are "Cochise", "Like A Stone" and "I am the Highway." The first 8 tracks of this are great and amazing with everyone one of them having ther own unique sound. After track 8 it just seems to become so mediocre. It is so much better to have Chris Cornell singing with Tom Morello's guitar's then having RATM's lead singer. SG and RATM are a great combination and even there second album is great. With Chris they easily surpass RATM's music.

One of the better modern rock bands out there
Audioslave (2002.) Audioslave's first album.

Just as the twenty-first century arrived, music was going downhill severely. The pop music of the day was nothing short of terrible, for the most part, and the once awesome alternative/grunge rock genre had spawned far too many clones, resulting in the very disappointing nu-metal genre. Many of the alternative rock giants that had made the nineties such an awesome time from rock and roll were gone. And then, something completely unexpected happened. Chris Cornell, former vocalist for Soundgarden, one of the greatest bands of the nineties, joined forces with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk - former Rage Against The Machine members. The collaboration of these artists took the name Audioslave. The group's self-titled first album was released in 2002. Interestingly enough, the cover art for the album was created by none other than Storm Thorgueson, the guy who had gained fame in the seventies for creating Pink Floyd's album covers! Read on for my review of the album.

I went into listening to this album with somewhat mixed emotions. Though I was a big-time Soundgarden fan, I was never that big of a Rage Against The Machine fan - and this band was one quarter Soundgarden and three quarters Rage. My doubts were shattered with one listen to the album, though. Admittingly, the stylings here are more Rage-like than Soundgarden-like, but it's like the band takes all the best elements of Rage's sound. Fuse those with Chris Cornell's awesome vocal abilities, and this makes for a cool record. Most modern rock bands are pathetic clones of one another whose sound is godawful, but not Audioslave. Their ability to combine the sounds of Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine makes for one of the more interesting rock releases of the era. Many of these songs became fairly popular radio hits, including the instant classic Cochise. That's not to say the non-hits aren't excellent, though. Through and through, the group delivers a plethora of excellent modern rock tunes. While many of the songs do sound alike, they manage to maintain just enough of a sense of individuality to keep things interesting. Admittingly, when the band recorded this album, they hadn't toured together or even played together much at all, so the album does seem a bit rushed in places, and the production could have been better. Still, this doesn't make me dislike the release. In an era when pretty much all the rock music of the day sucked, this album was the light in a world of shadows. If you're a fan of either Soundgarden, Rage Against The Machine, or just someone who wants to hear the best of what modern-style rock has to offer, Audioslave's debut is a worthwhile purchase.

Since this was a fairly recent release, it is still readily available in stores. And more likely than not, its popularity will be rekindled by the release of the band's second album in 2005, Out Of Exile. It's not likely that this record will become scarce anytime soon, being that Audioslave is fairly popular, and unquestionably one of the better modern rock bands.

In the end, Audioslave's debut album stands as one of the best rock releases in what I ultimately consider to be a dark time for rock music in general. While other bands were failing left and right, creating a sound that failed to please on many levels, Audioslave knew how to please listeners. If you're a fan of either of the bands that the members came from, or you just want to hear the best of what modern rock can give you musically, Audioslave's self-titled first is an album worth picking up.

Audioslave is a breath of fresh air
In this day of music, where everyone wants to tune their guitars down low and all sound the same, Audioslave is a breath of fresh air to the music industry.They are looked at as being a supergroup, but they completely stand on their own, independent of their "original" sounds.Audioslave has managed to take my favorite part of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell, and of Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk, and put them together.Cornell's vocals blend well with the music put up by the rest of Audioslave.Morello gets a lot of credit for his guitar playing, but Commerford and Wilk are no slouches either.Both are tremendous musicians and excel greatly in what they do. This album rocks right from the opening chords of "Cochise" on to the end.These 4 brilliant musicians definitely excel better together than they did with their former acts.Anyone out there looking for a good rock cd with some catchy guitar riffs, this is your cd. ... Read more

Asin: B00006RU5B
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Hard Rock    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Post-Grunge    6. Rock   

Demolition
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 September, 2002)
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Editorial Review

Former Whiskeytown frontman Ryan Adams claims to have written and recorded enough songs over the past several years to fill a four-CD collection--and that's in addition to his acclaimed 2001 breakthrough Gold. Wisely, Adams decided to skip the box set--hey, he's only 27--and issue a sort of "best of" compilation comprising 13 unreleased demos. Recorded at four different studio sessions in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Stockholm, with a cast of musicians that includes his road band the Pinkhearts, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Ethan Johns, Chris Stills, Bucky Baxter, and Greg Leisz, Demolition proves that Adams is still a work in progress: brilliant one moment, sloppy the next. When he's good, he's very good: the rousing country-rocker "Hallelujah," the brooding acoustic ballads "Dear Chicago" and "Tomorrow," and the jangly power-pop number "Gimme a Sign" are as fine as anything on Gold. But Adams sometimes lapses into mimicry, as he does on "Nuclear" and "Starting to Hurt," both of which could be outtakes from a U2 album. "Tennessee Sucks," a chronicle of a boredom-filled summer day in Nashville, sounds half-baked, while the closing track, "Jesus (Don't Touch My Baby)," which finds Adams (on synthesizer, guitars, bass, and drum machine) droning on like Leonard Cohen, falls in the "failed experiment" category. Despite its bright spots, Demolition ultimately comes off as a mixed bag. --David Hill ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Demolition & Construction
Ryan Adams `Demolition'


`Demolition' is Ryan's collection of demo's "left over" from the various recording sessions in Nashville, Los Angeles and Stockholm circa `Gold'. Indeed, this album seems to be the flipside of his second album proper and is best described as `a bit of a mixed bag, but mostly good'. On the record he works with backing band the Pinkhearts, Gillian Welch, `Heartbreaker' collaborator David Rawlings, `Heartbreaker' and `Gold' producer Ethan Johns, Carrie Hamilton Chris Stills, Bucky Baxter and Greg Leisz.

Tracks include the pleasant country tracks, but mildly disappointing, `Desire' and `Hallelujah', which is nothing more than a second rate `Firecracker' from `Gold'. In contrast, acoustic ditties such as the Nick Drake-like `You Will Always Be The Same' and the brilliant and emotive `Cry On Demand' rank among Adams' best work. The albums highlight is `Tomorrow', and the fact that it was co-written with Carrie Hamilton, a friend of Ryan's who appears on the sleeve of `Gold' who later died from cancer, makes the song seem even more touching. It is a beautiful solo acoustic track with excellent duel vocals from Ryan and Gillian Welch. Elsewhere, `Jesus (Don't Touch My Baby)', although one of the weaker tracks on the album, is another emotional song about when the author first found out about Carrie Hamilton's cancer.

Other highlights include lead single `Nuclear' is an excellent opener which ranks with Ryan's best songs, and `Starting To Hurt' is a bass-line lead rocker about a woman jumping from the top of a building, which is another touching moment once you know the story behind the song. However, for every good track, there is one which disappoints. `Gimme A Sign' is pedestrian and easily forgotten, and `Tennessee Sucks' is quite nice but again not very memorable. However, considering that this is a collection of "unfinished demo's" (which is hard to believe when you listen to this record) then these are only minor flaws, as `She Wants To Plays Hearts', `Dear Chicago' and `Chin Up, Cheer Up' are all welcome on the record.

Therefore, not as complete as his previous two "proper" studio albums but at only 13 tracks it makes it a bit easier to listen to than the 16 tracks of `Gold'. As far as albums go, this isn't bad at all, but as far as demo collections go, this is excellent. Another essential Ryan Adams record.

Fans Only
In 2001, Adams released Gold, a great alt-country record that balanced those two usually paradoxical genres of music and conjured beautiful images of being young and heartbreakingly in love. This year it feels like he's lost a little energy.
Although tracks like (Track 2) and "Cry on Demand" are great songs, most of the rest of the album seems to be lacking some of the spunk that made Gold sound and feel so wide open and fun. Most of the tracks here suffer from too much mope. Take (Track 7) for instance which sounds like a horrible country B-side from Pablo Honey. Don't even get me started on (Track 13), five minutes of needless guitar dissonance and incoherent mumbling.
The album is entitled Demolition, meaning that songs are meant to be taken as demos. I'm not sure what they would have sounded like "finished", but chances are that it would have been more enjoyable. For fans only.

Not that good
Bottom line is this is an album that should not have been released to the public yet. The recordings are also very bare which would be okay if this was "Let it Be: Naked" but it's not even close.So the songs which are already bad, suffer from simplistic intstrumentation.There isn't one song on here that's gonna grab you and hit you in the chest and make you say, "I'm so glad I got this CD". Look I love Ryan Adams and I'm a song-writer/singer myself and I think he's one of the best song-writers ever, but these songs are so forgettable. There is nothing to remember about it. So instead of this get Rock n Roll (if you like upbeat rock), Gold (if you like a mix of everything), or Heartbreaker (if you wanna feel what being sad is like through music and lyrics.) ... Read more

Asin: B00006IRHZ
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Singer/Songwriter   

Weezer
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 May, 1994)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

There's a classic episode of The Little Rascals where one of the gang can't join everybody else on the ballfield because he has to stay home with his younger brother, who has the croup. "I can't come out and play," he whines. "I've got to stay home and grease Wheezer!" Nobody at Geffen Records knows whether this was the inspiration in naming Weezer, but it makes sense. Like many of their peers, the members of the Los Angeles quartet seem to have spent their formative years in front of the TV; when they were a little older, they were just as entranced by college rock. Finally, ala the Rascals, one of the gang said, "Hey, kids, let's put on a show!," and the result is Weezer's uplifting, unpretentious, and extremely endearing debut.

The self-titled Weezer is lean and mean at 10 short, punchy tunes, but nearly every one is powered by a larger-than-life chorus or a simple but effective lyric. "Undone-The Sweater Song" uses an unraveling sweater as a metaphor for a relationship on the rocks; "Buddy Holly" pays heartfelt tribute to the '50s rocker, and "In the Garage" paints a scene of suburban teens jamming while surrounded by posters of Kiss. Producer Ric Ocasek of Cars fame pushes the vocals and rhythm guitars, and this bare-bones approach may earn comparisons to fellow garage-pop band Green Day. But Weezer has more in common with the late, lamented Big Dipper, another group of slacker wiseguys that you just had to love. --Jim DeRogatis ... Read more

Reviews (441)

Breathtaking.
I can't say I love any album more than this.From the moment I heard that amazing fingerpicking intro to My Name Is Jonas to the last bass note in Only In Dreams, I was enthralled.I literally got goosebumps, it was so great.

The Blue Album is written with a different spin than any bands of the time.It's emotional, yet fun and cheerful at the same time.From the real life twist of Say it Ain't So to the cheerful atmosphere of Holiday and the nostalgic song Only In Dreams, Blue is solid all the way through.It's thought by many fans, including myself, that it will never be surpassed by Weezer or another band.Pinkerton, their next album, came close, but in a different way.

There's no reason why not to buy the Blue Album.Weezer earned a name from this CD that sold less than a hundred in the first week, yet came back to sell millions.Listen to the Blue Album, and find out why.

Au Contraire
I don't mean to ruin the five-star party, especially given that a number of good friends of mine do love this album.But, despite the fact that I really liked Undone, Buddy Holly, and Say It Ain't So on the radio, I just have a hard time listening to this album and getting into it.Weezer seems stuck in a rut stylistically-- every song has the same heavy guitar sound, mixed in with the occassional light acoustic guitar.While other bands do the same thing without it getting really bothersome, Weezer's sound grates on me after a few songs.That said, Holiday and Garage are good songs, and you probably already like the singles if you're reading this.But for what it's worth, the bulk of the album doesn't do anything for me that the singles didn't.3 and a half stars.

Modern Rock Masterpiece
I can't begin to describe the feeling I get whenever I hear those opening finger picking notes on the acoustic guitar ridden song "My name is Jonas." The Blue album is the apex of what music means to me. All then tracks are phenomenally written Pop gems. This album will never get old to me. I'm buying a copy for my nephew when he turns 8 years old. I was 8 years old in 1994 when it came out. Don't listen to a single negative review of the blue album if you ever come across one. This is music from a great band that hit it right on the head with this release. Go and buy Blue, you will not be dissapointed in the LEAST bit. ... Read more

Asin: B000003TAW
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock/Pop   

Parachutes
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (07 November, 2000)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Music doesn't come more touching than this. With their debut single alone, the emotion-fortified "Shiver," Coldplay prove they can shift between elated and crushed in a breath, as singer Chris Martin pours out music's oldest chestnut (unconditional yet unrequited love) with the shakiest of voices and a backdrop of epic guitars. For 10 tracks on Parachutes, he adds newfound meaning to the most tired and overused rock sentiments--love found, love lost, love unrequited--over acoustic guitars and emotionally fraught rock. And for once, all the clichés ring true because Chris Martin genuinely sounds like a man picking over the bones of his life, coming up with just as many reasons to be cheerful as seriously depressed. Not that Parachutes is a depressing album--there's too much conviction to the guitars and hope in Martin's words for that. Instead it's a beautifully tender balance that comes as close to perfection as anything that's come before it. --Dan Gennoe ... Read more

Reviews (578)

A Great Album for great people
What can I say about Coldplay other than the fact that they are the greatest band out right now, I think that they are not going anywhere for a longtime. This album is very sad, and when I say sad I mean it is bittersweet and the lyrics reflect a very profound mind, with scars and fears.

A MASTERPIECE!
This is a beautiful album.I can feel the words, the notes, the music.Their music carries so much emotion.I especially love the song Don't Panic.It's beautiful.Trouble, Yellow and Everything's Not Lost are three more emotional, inspiring songs.Go Buy it.You won't be disappointed.

Excellent album from start to finish
A great album is like this where every song is great from start to finish. This album has the perfect amount of songs and never gets boring. This band is very talented. I actually like them better then Radiohead. ... Read more

Asin: B0000508U6
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Complete Early Recordings
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (15 September, 1994)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

With an unmistakable falsetto delivery, Skip James created some ofhistory's eeriest blues records. His blues sounds dark and mysterious, using odd tunings, structures, and rhythms, and exploring gloomy lyrical themes. Unlike other bluesmen of the day, James's music was personal and bleak, played for his own emotional release and not for purposes of entertainment."Devil Got My Woman," "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues," "Hard Luck Child," and "Special Rider Blues" convey sorrow and misery like few others can. Uptempo numbers such as the classic "I'm So Glad" and "Drunken Spree," which resembles the hillbilly traditional "Late Last Night," showcase his forceful guitar picking while rags "Little Cow and Calf" and the jumpy "How Long 'Buck'" feature his unique piano work.--Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (23)

amazing sound quality
seriously these recordings sound better than the best dolby 5.1 dvd audio mix you ever heard.

Worth the work
You have to listen hard to get past the surface noise on these 1930 recordings. Many of the originals exist only in single copies and time was not any better to them than it was to James himself. But if you are only familiar with the later recordings he made after being "re-discovered", you have to hear these original sessions.
His voice, his guitar, his staccato piano work are amazing in these recordings. Thirty years later all had faded to one degree or another, but particularly the voice. Hear the original, do the work. You'll find the education worth the effort. If you are a blues person you NEED this CD.

one of the best
This has to be probably my favorite blues album I own.I really appreciate how the remastering tried to keep the integraty of the songs by not removing the surface noise for it would ruin the songs.Many people don't like his piano tracks but if you really give them a listen, there is some very sophistacated piano here.He can play the piano as well, if not better, than the guitar.Of course his guitar playing is amazing.If you like clean, crisp recordings, please avoid this.If you want a glimpse into the history of the blues by one of the greatest blues artists, pick this one up.You won't be dissappointed. ... Read more

Asin: B000000G8L
Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Pop